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JOURNAL OF CHEPdICAL EDUCATION
Probably the chapter written in the most scientific manner is the one by ARNO VIEROE~ER, on "Soil and Sod." Here are gathered data as t o soils, and soil reactions. There is a catalog of common, wild, and tame house and drug plants, classified as t o the pH of the soil best fitted far their growth. Here in less than 40 pages is an excellent introduction t o agricultural chemistry, containing a wealth of material for the teacher or student. The first half of Ivon GRIPPITH'Schapter on "The Cosmetic Urge" is "popular" in nature and, with apologies t o Mencken. would he an excellent address t o be made a t a Rotary Club luncheon. The last half, however, contains information as t o the composition of various cosmetics, and their value. I n "The Carbon Oxide Brothers. Mon and Di." F. P. STROUP discusses the manufacture and uses of these two substances. The composition of modern fireworks is included in an article by E. FULLERTON COOKon "The History and Mystery of Pyrotechny." The use of military pyrotechnics is also briefly discussed. "Iodized Salt-A Food or a Drug" is the title of an article by D. W. HORNwhich considers the problem from a clmical standooint. The advantaxes and disadvantages are abundantly discussed. Others chapters, not pertaining so directly t o chemistry, are: "Time-What Keeps It?": "How Much Do You Weigh,"; "Snakes and Snake Protection"; "Heart Beat and Blood Flow"; "Little Drops of Water"; and "Evolution of the Motion Picture." Collectively they are an interesting series of articles, written in a popular style, although as would he expected, the style varies from article to article. SAULB. ARENSON UNIVBRS~TY on CINC~NNAII
C r a n m * n , Onm
Sulfuric Acid and Its Manufacture. H. A. AUDEN, MSC., DSC. Longmans, Green and Co., London, New York City, 1930. vii 231 pp. 50 figs. 14 X 22 cm. $6.00.
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D E ~ E ~ ~ B1930 ER.
The author states that, in view of the size and inclusion of many details, the standard works on this subject are not suited t o the student of applied chemistry. This hook has as its purpose an exposition of the fundamental prohlems underlying the manufacture of sulfuric acid, and includes numerous references and a brief review of earlier methods and processes. Beginning with a chapter on history and statistics, the author devotes a chapter each t o the properties of sulfuric acid, to its handling and transportation, and t o the production from sulfates. Two chapters discuss the sources of raw material, sulfur and pyrites, and the burners used in making sulfur dioxide from them. The discussion of the lead chamber process and the purification and concentration of chamber acid occupies most of the rest of the hook. The contact process and its control are covered in two chapters, a space which is not commensurate with the importance of contact acid manufacture. Some excellent tables of data are given, but more would have been welcome. Most authors of hwks of this type greatly overestimate the preparation and background of the average student of applied chemistry, and take entirely too much for granted. While this hook is very valuable t o one who already has a very clear idea of the ways in which sulfuric acid is made commercially, i t is doubtful whether a student trained solely in theoretical chemistry will he able to get anything like as much from the discussion as he would have if a few pages had been devoted to a simple, elementary summary by way of introduction and preparation. The illustrations are mod, but are far too few in number. From the standpoint of educational value the hook is so good that one cannot help regretting that i t is not a little better so as t o justify its being regarded as the last word in a brief text on this subject. The only way in which a hook of this sort can he improved from an educational standpoint is for teachers t o use it, and to tell the author in what respects they
VOL.7, NO. 12
RECEN'i r BOOKS
feel it can he improved in the next edition. W. T. READ RUTOBPS UNIYE~SLTY New B n u ~ s w ~ cN. s , 1.
A Textbook of Organic Chemistry. A. F. HOLLEMAN, Ph.D., LL.D., DSc., F.R. S.E. Seventh English edition, John Wiley and Sow, Inc.. New York City. 594 pp. 80 figs. 15 X 23 1930. xx cm. $3.50.
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If popularity with students and teachers is t o be accepted as a criterion of excellence in a textbook, Professor Holleman's treatise must he given a very high place indeed. For nearly thirty years i t has been a favorite with classes in elementary organic chemistry throughout the world. During this time the book has appeared in nine different languages and the number of separate editions has mounted to the impressive total of fiftytwo. Such wide and sustained popularity has rarely been enjoyed by any textbook. The book was originally designed for use in the first course in organic chemistry. All important types of compounds were discussed though necessarily in a very brief way. Emphasis was laid on the theory underlying the subject and the number of facts given was kept dawn t o a minimum. These features, now so amply justified by the success which the hook has attained, have been retained in the present edition. Many alterations are t o be found in the text of this edition. The application in organic chemistry of certain physiochemical methods has been given a fuller treatment. Important changes are t o he found in the discussion of such subjects as disaccharides, enzymes, and the relationship between color and constitution. Minor changes throughout the book serve to bring it up t o date on many points of theory and practice which have undergone change during the last few years. Excellent as the book is, the reviewer feels that in certain respects it fails t o reflect fully the spirit of present-day organic chemistry. For example, emphasis is everywhere placed on those reactions
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which are supposed to indicate structure rather than those which are useful in synthetic work. Thus the Wurtz-Fittig method is cited as frequently as the Grignard reaction, the Friedel-Crafts method, or the use of malonic ester, despite the fact that the first-mentioned type of reaction is comparatively of little use in synthetic work and of doubtful value in structural studies. Thiele's theory of partial valencies (page 367) has not proved of sufficiently general use t o warrant its inclusion here except possibly as a historical note. It would seem advisable rather t o include some mention of the newer developments in valence theory a t least t o the extent of showing that all valencies are not alike in character. The modem tendency t o regard aromatic chemistry as a special case of ethylenic chemistry is not found in the hwk. For example, on page 357 aromatic compounds are contrasted with saturated aliphatic compounds, whereas one would expect them t o he compared with ethylenic compounds. The chemistry of phenols is compared with that of alcohols, hut ends are not mentioned in this connection. Again, the treatment of cyclohexane derivatives as hydroaromatic compounds relates them t o benzene. Would it not he better t o compare them with the paraffins? Similarly, would i t not be more helpful to compare the terpenes with the pentenes with which they are so closely allied? Apart from such considerations as these, this new edition of the book fully merits a continuation of the wide papularity enjoyed by the preceding issues. C. FUSON REYNOLD UNIYERSmY OF I L . I K 0 1 5
Uaarlin. ILL.
An Introdnction to Organic Chemistry. EFSC JOHN HOLMYARD, M.A.. M.Sc., D.Litt., F.I.C., Head of the Science Department, Clifton College. Edward Arnold & Co., London; Longmans, Green and Co., New York City, 1930. 282 pp. 31 figs., 9 plates. $1.75. xi
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